Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration January 22: What Is Pran Pratishtha Ceremony Of Ram Lalla Idol?

Ram Mandir Ayodhya Opening Date: Ayodhya is in a celebratory mood as the much-awaited 'pran pratishtha' of Ram Lalla idol at the Ram Temple will happen at 12.20 pm on January 22, 2024.

The date January 22 is going to be historical and of huge relevance for the devotees of Lord Ram, who has been waiting for years for the completion of the Ram Mandir in Ram Janmbhoomi Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh).
After the 550-year-long wait, Hindu devotees on January 22 will finally be fortunate to see the 'pran pratishtha' of Ram Lalla idol at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

In Hindu tradition, Pran Pratishtha is the consecration of a Murthi (deity idol) by following rituals including chanting of hymns and mantras mentioned in Hindu scriptures to make the deity divine. The opening of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be a grand event and will be telecasted on TV channels so that Hindu devotees who are living in other parts of the country can have a view of their sacred deity and other rituals that will be performed on that day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Ram Mandir on the same day. The consecration will be followed by a 7-day long ritual. As per reports, during the consecration, only 5 people i.e. PM Modi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Governor Anandi Ben Patel, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and a priest are likely to be present inside the 'garbhagriha' .

As per reports, all the temples and Hindu households across the country will organize special prayers on this day and light diyas to mark this special day. Ahead of this big day, Pran Pratishtha invitation cards have grabbed all the eyeballs. The cover of the 'Pran Pratishtha' programme card also carries a silhouetted image of the temple along with a very juvenile Lord Ram. Besides the large aesthetically designed cards, the invitation also includes a booklet carrying brief profiles of some of the key people who were involved in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

Let us understand what is the meaning of pran pratishtha:

What Is Pran Pratishtha?

Pran Pratishtha is a popular ritual in Jainism and Hinduism and is considered an important ritual at any temple where the idol of a deity is installed at a sacred place like a temple, after sanctification. At the time of the installation of the idols, the priests perform a lot of rituals and chant Vedic hymns. The word Pran means life and Pratishtha means establishment.

Pran Pratishtha or consecration ceremony means invoking life into the idol. Pran Pratishtha of any idol is important because it is believed that before the process of Pran Pratishtha every idol is like any other decorative piece of a figurine. Through Pran Pratishtha, special powers are infused into idols, and they are transformed into deities. After this process, devotees can worship these idols.

What Is The Process Of Pran Pratishtha?

Whenever an idol of a god or goddess is installed in a temple, the ceremony of bringing the idol to life is called Pran Pratishtha. In Sanatan Dharma, it is believed that when we pray the worship is not actually of the idol, but of the divine power and consciousness inherent in it.

In the process of Pran Pratishtha, first, the idol is ceremoniously brought to the temple. Then, life is instilled in the idols by bathing them in milk and applying fragrances. The process begins by placing the idol in the sanctum sanctorum. During this time, the idol is beautifully dressed and placed in the east direction by the head priest.

According to Hindu scriptures, the face of the idol in the temple or house should always be towards the east since there is positive energy in the east direction as the Sun rises in this direction. Thus, it is believed that the idols should be installed facing the east direction.

After installing it in the right place, the priests in the temple start singing the hymns and mantras and performing rituals. At first, the eyes of the idol are opened. Once this process is complete, the idol is considered worthy of being worshipped. It is believed that the rituals infuse life into the idol and bring the divine presence of the presiding deity to the temple.

This is how life is consecrated in an idol:

• Priests take the idol for a city tour,
• It is then bathed in the Saryu River.
• The idol is then brought back, and after that, the priests submerge the idol in water and keep it in grains, flowers, and milk. (The order of this is decided by priests.)
• After the ceremony, lord Rama will be adorned with ornaments and a crown on the head.
• Consecration by reciting Beej Mantras.
• Once the idol is consecrated, it is considered to remain for eternity.

Relevance of January 22 in Hindu tradition:

This date January 22 syncs up with the auspicious Abhijit Muhurat. The Muhurat on January 22 lasts from 11:51 am to 12:33 pm.

It is believed that Lord Shiva killed the demon Tripurasur during Abhijit Muhurat. Further, Abhijit Muhurat has the blessing of Lord Vishnu who destroys innumerable Doshas with His Sudarshan Chakra during the currency of this Muhurat. This muhurta is thus associated with the removal of any negative energies from one's life.